Apparatus for supplying receptacles with liquid.



. L. A. HUFFERD.

APP'ABATIJS FOR SUPPLYING RECEPTACLES WITH LIQUID.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I3. 1916.l

Patented oet. 21,1917.

narran sTaTns raTningT orricn. l

LoT A. HUFFERD, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN;

y APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING RECEP'IACLES WITH LIQUID.`

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LoT A. HUFFERD, a citizen 'of the United States,residing at Detroit, in the county of l/Vayne and State-[of Michigan,have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Apparatus forSupplying Receptacles with Liquid, of which the lfollowing is aspecication.v

My invention is intended to provide an automatic apparatus by means ofwhich a receptacle may be kept lled 'with liquid to a substantiallyconstant level from ano-ther receptacle in'which the level of the liquidis subject to variations so great that they could not be reproduced inthe supplied receptacle.

may be exemplilied by assuming that it is desired to keep a hog trough,chicken trough or similar relatively shallow receptacle constantlysupplied with water from another l receptacle, such as a horse trough,forinstance, which is too deep to serve for watering hogsor chickensandin which the level of the water is liableto be anywhere between the ytopand bottom of the trough. In suchy case, by interposing between the tworeceptacles an apparatus embodyingl my invention, the deeper trough maybe caused to supply the shallower trough in such manner that whateverthe variationsv in the level Vof the water in the deeper trough may be,they will affect the level of the water in the shallower trough soslightlyV l a detail of the construction; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, drawn to a smaller scale, in which is showna modification. A f

In the drawing, 2 indicates a portion of thev supply receptacle, whichmay be assumed to be a tank or trough of considerable depth, and 3indicates a portion of the receptacle to' be supplied, which may be aS-sumed to be a relatively shallow trough wherein it is desired tomaintain a supply of water at a substantially constant level. It is alsoto be assumed that the supply re- Specication of Letters Patent.

The utility of my invention, f which may be employed in variousrelations,

vonce been primed. n The open lower end of the pipeextends Patented oct.2,1917.

l Application fnedinbvember 13, 1916. serial No. 130,964.

ceptacle 2 is filled with water from time to time but that the waterleveltherein is subject to wide variations, such as would result fromoccasional consumption of the water by horses or cows, for example. Theapparatus connecting the two receptacles 2 and 3 comprises an upper tank4 which is secured to one end of the 'receptacle 2 or otherwisemaintained in fixed .position and from which a pipe 5 extends downwardinto alower tank 6, which is also fixed in position and is connected byan ,open pipe 7 with the receptacle 3, preferablyI at or nearv thebottomof'the latter. Another pipe 8 connects the receptacle 2 withthe'tank 4, preferably atbor near their bottoms, and although in thedrawing the'frece'ptacles 2 and y3 are shown incloseproximity tothetanks 4 and 6 respectively they may be located in pracy tice-atanydesired distances from said tanks.

Abovefthe pipe 5 is located another upright open-endedpipe 9 which iscarried by the tank 4 and passes through a perforation in the bottomthereof, so that said pipes constitute in effect a single pipe andprovide'a continuous-passage extending upward through thek bottom of thetank, `the connection between the pipes and the tank being water-tight.The upper endof the pipe 9 is'located above the highest level reachedvsiphon and the pipe 9 which lcontains its inner leg. In theconstruction illustrated the Siphon is provided with two outer legs 12in order togive it suflicient symmetry to substantially balance itsweight with respect to its support hereinafter described,v and theklower ends of its several legs 'are upturned in order to keep the siphonfull after it has downward into the tank 6 to apoint lsomewhat below thepipe 7 and is preferably given'later'al support by causing it to pass.

through a fixed cross piece-13 carried by the walls of tank 6. Abovethis cross piece is located a float 14 which 'has' a central openingthrough which the pipe 5 passes freely and ,carries la top plate 15 fromwhich is suspended a stirrup 16, the upright arms of vby the waterin thetank 4, and within said t which pass freely through perforations inregardless of theextent to which the water level in the receptacle 2falls. It the receptacle 2 is filled vagain after having been partiallyemptied, the operation is the lreverse ofthat above described, vthepartial vacuum in the tank 4 and the head of water in the pipe 5 beingreduced-until a conditionof equilibrium is reached. f

If the net crossesectional areas of the tanks 4 and 6 are about thesame, as in the construction illustrated, any fall of the water level inthe tank 4 which is due to a fall of the level in the receptacle 2willbe a little greater than the resulting fall of the level in the tank6, because the latter has the receptacle 3 to draw from, andconsequently the level in the tank 4 may fallslightly below the upturnedlower end of the leg 10 of the siphon. In such case,vcon

sumption of water from the receptacle 3 willl not produce a iiow throughthe siphon until said siphon has vbeen slightly lowered by the float14,but thereafter said receptacle 3 will be kept supplied ywith water inthe manner already explained. It' follows that when the water level inthe receptacle 2 falls the ratio ofthe resulting vfall otlevel in thereceptacle 3 to the fall 'of Vlevel in the receptacle 2 will be equal tothe ratio of the cross-sectional area of the pipe 5 to the netcross-sectional area of the tank 4, which ratio will be determined foreach specific apparatus in'accordance with the depth of the receptacle3. The normal or highest level in the receptacle 3 willbe determined bytherelative vertical adjustment of the siphon 11 and float 14, and thelength ofy the pipe 5 will be determined in accordance with the extentto which the water level in the receptacle 2 is liable to vary, sinceone. of the functions of said pipe is to contain a water column such aswill compensate vfor a lowering of said water level. In case the waterin the receptacle 2 should fall to such an extent as to cause the waterinthe pipe 5 to rise above the level of the upturned end of the leg 10of the siphon, the parts will then contain a continuous body of waterex-y tending from one receptacle to the other and will operate undersuch conditions as a simple siphon, with the result that any change inthe level of the'water in either receptacle will 'cause a ow from theother receptacle until the water reaches the same level in both.

ln the modification shown in Fig. '3 the lower end of the pipe 5 has ashallow downwardly-acingfunnel 25 detachably secured thereto and thearms 16 of the stirrup which supports thenrod 17 extend upward past theouter edges of the iioat instead of through its central opening,thereby'providing a space for the reception of the funnel, the purposeof which is tofprevent any air which may be carried down' throughthepipe 5 bythe falling water therein from es- The funnel operates bycollecting the air bubbles when they rise after reaching thecomparatively still portions of the water inV f caping through .the tank6 and thereby di-l minishingthe body of air intended to be lmaintainedin the upper part of the tank 4.

receptacle 2 to a point slightly above the plugged end of said pipe,then removing the cap 22, andthen filling the tank 4 to a levelcorresponding with the maximum level in the. receptacle 2, then fillingthe tank 6 to the top of the discharge pipe 7, then removing, primingand replacing the siphon, then `immediately replacing the cap 22, andthen removingthe plug from the pipe 8, whereupon the receptacle 2 can befilled to any desired extent and the apparatus willoperate in the manneralready explained.

It is an important advantage of the ap-v paratus above describedthatalthough it in v cludes a species of ioat feed for controlling the levelof the liquid in the receptacle 3 it is wholly free from mechanicalvalves and other parts which might give trouble by becoming clogged orotherwise getting out of order, the only moving part being that composedof thev combined siphon and iioat and their connections. It also has theadvantages that its parts are simple, are easily adjustable in so far asadjustment is required, and constitute a structure which is practicallyindependent of thev receptacles between which it is interposed, so thatit can be cornbine'd with existing receptacles without dtli` its topportion closed and also having an inlet adapted to be connectedto asupply receptacle, a lower tank hai/*ing an outlet adapted to beconnected to a receptacle to be supplied, Van open-ended pipe connectingsaid tanks and having vits upper end located above the llevel oftheliquid in the upper tankandv its lower 'end located below the levelofthe liquid in'the lower tank, and means controlled by the rise andtall of the liquid inthe lower tank for regulating the How from theupper tank into said'pipe.

2. An "apparatus of the character' described, comprising an upper tank`having its top portion closed and also having an inlet adapted to be'connected to a supply receptacle, a lower, tank having an outletadapted to be connected to a receptacleto be supplied, an open-ended epipe connecting said'tanks and havinggitsupper end located above thelevel of the liquid in the upper tank and its lower end located below'ythe level of the liquid in the lowertank, a float movablewith the riseand fall` of the rliquid in the lower tank, and a vsiphony carried 'bysaid float and arranged to convey liquid from the vupper tank into saidpipe.v

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising anf upper tankhaving` its top portion closed and also having an in letladapted to beconnected to a supply receptacle, a lowertank having an `outlet adaptedto be connected toa receptacle to be supplied, an open-ended pipeconnecting said tanks and having itsy upper end located above the levelof the liquid in the upper tank and its lower end located below thelevel of the liquid in the lower tank, a lloat located in the lower tankand' movable with the rise and fall of 'the vliquid therein,` anyupright rod carried bythe float and extend# ing upward withinsaid pipe,and a siphon carried by said rod and having its outer and inner legslocated respectively in the upper tank and in the upper end of saidpipe.

4L. An apparatus of the` character described, fcomprising an upper tankhavingits topportion closed and also having `an inlet adapted to beconnected to a supply receptacle, a lower tank having an outlet adaptedto be connected to a receptacle to be supf plied, an open-ended pipeconnecting said tanks and having its upper end located above the levelof the liquid in thel upper tank and its lower end located below thelevel of the liquid in the lower tank, a float movabley with the riseand fall of the liquid inthe lower tank, and a siphon carried by saidfloat and arranged to convey liquid from the upper tank into said pipe,ther lower end of said pipe being provided with a downwardlyfacingfunnel..

5. An apparatus of the character described, comprising an upper tankhaving its top'portion closed and also having an inlet adapted to beconnected to a supply re-y ceptacle, a lower tank having an` outlet`adapted to lbe connected to a receptacle 4to `be supplied, anopen-endedpipe connecting said tanks and having its upper end locatedabove the level of thel liquid in the upper tankand its lower endlocated below-.the level ofthe liquid in the lowerftank, a float movablewith the rise and :tall of the liquid inthe lower tank, a siphon carriedbysaid float and arranged to convey liquid from the upper tank into saidpipe, and means vfor vertically adjusting ythe -siphon and float withrespect to each other.

6. An apparatus of the character described, comprising' an upper vtankhaving its top portion closed and also havingfan inlet-adapted fto=beconnected to asupply receptacleya: lower tank having an outlet adaptedtofbe connected to a receptacle to be supplied, an'openended pipeconnecting saidvtanksand having its upper end located abovethe level ofthe liquid in the upper .tank and itslower end located below the levelof the liquid inthe llower tank, a float located inthe lower tank andmovable with the rise and fall or' the liquid therein, av supporting rodcarried by thefloat and extending upward within said pipe, and a siphoncarried by said rod and having its outer' and inner `legs locatedrespectively in the .upper tankand in the upper end of said pipe, thelegs of said siphon being upturned at their lower ends. i

7.` An apparatus of the character described, ,comprising an upper tankhaving anopening-in its top andv a detachablevcap normally closing` thesame, said tank being provided with an inlet adapted to be connected toa supply receptacle,a lower tank having van outlet adapted to beconnected to a receptacle-to be supplied,an open-endedpipeconnectingsaid tanks and having its upper endlocated above the levelof the liquid@ in therupper tank and its lower end located belowvthelevel of the liquid` in the lower tank,ia float located in the lowertank and movable with the rise. and fall of the liquid therein, anupright rod carried bv the float and extending upward within said pipe,and a siphon detachably securedto the upper endofsaid rod and removablethrough the openingrin the top ofthe upper tank, withits outer and innerlegs located respectively inthe upper tank and in they upper end of saidpipe.-

8. Air apparatusof the character described, comprisingan uppertankhaving an openinginits top anda detachable cap normallyclosing-thesame, said tank being provided with anvinlet adapted to be connected toa supply receptacle, a lower tank havingan outlet adapted to bevconnected to a receptaclev to be supplied, an open-ended pipeconnectingsaid tanks and having its upper end locatedy above the levelofv the liquid in 'the upper tankand its 'lower end located below thelevel 'ofthe liquid in the lower tank,.a float located in the lower-tankand'movable with the rise and fall of thel liquid therein, an uprightrod carried by the float and extending` upward within said pipe, and asiphon detachably secured to Jche upper end of said rod and having itsouter andV inner llegs located respectively in the upper tank and in theupper end ofv said pipe, said siphon being removable through the openingin the top of the upper tank and having its legs upturned at their lowerends.

9; An apparatus of the character y described, comprising a supplyreceptacle, a receptacle to be supplied, an upper tank .having its topportion closedr and also hav.-

' ing an inlet located near its bottom and connected to the supplyreceptacle by an open pipe, a lower tank having an outlet connected byan open pipe tothe receptacle to be supplied, an open-ended pipeconnecting said tanks and having its upper end located above the inletto the upper tank and its lower end located below the outlet from thelower tank, a float movable with the rise and tall of the liquid in thelower tank, and a siplion carried bv said oat and ar-v ranged to conveyliquid from the upper tank into said pipe.

10. nn apparatus of tne character described comprising a supplyreceptacle. i. receptacle to be supplied, an upper tank having its topportion closed and also having an inlet located near its bottom andconnected to the supply receptacle by an open pipe, a lower' tank.having an outlet con` nected by an open pipe to the receptacle to besupplied, an openended pipe connecting said tanks and having its upperend located above the inlet to the upper tank and its lower end locatedbelow the outlet from the lower tank, a float located in the lower tankand movable with the rise and fall of the liquid therein, an upright rodcarried by the float and extending upward within said pipe, a Siphoncarried by saidrod and having its outer and inner legs locatedrespectively in the upper tank and in the Copies of this patent may beobtained for upper end of said pipe, and means for vertically adjustingthe siphon and float with respect to each other.

l1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a supplyreceptacle, a receptacle to be supplied, an upper tank having an openingin its top and also having an inlet located near its bottom and confnected to the supply receptacle by an open pipe, a lower tank having anoutlet connected by an open pipe to the receptacle to be supplied, anopen-ended pipe connecting said tanks and having its upper end'locatedbeneath the opening in the top of the upper tank and below the outlet`from said tank, the lower end of said pipe being located be low theoutlet fromthe lower tank, a float located in the lower tank and movablewith the rise and fall of the liquid therein, an

upright rod carried by the float and eXtendv of November, 1916. y

- LOT A. HUFFERD.v

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D.C.

